Korendir’s name was the stuff of legend ...

Man of mystery ... deadly mercenary ... obsessed adventurer ...

From a life of misery, chained as a galley slave under the whips of the marauding Mhurgai, Korendir contrived an escape against impossible odds, only to gamble his hard-won freedom against ever more deadly stakes—in a world endangered by elementals, shape-changers, demons and perilous wizardry. Even Haldeth, fellow captive at the oar and his only accepted friend, can not understand what drives Korendir to repeated risk. But the hazardous tasks serve a madman’s hope, to build an unbreachable citadel.

Yet, can any fortress wall be enough to disarm the inner nightmares that ride the Master of Whitestorm with the cruelty of a death-wish?

“IS KORENDIR ALIVE?”

Staring at Haldeth thoughtfully, Orame, wizard of the White Circle, said, “He’s alive.” A frown marred his olive skin. “But not for much longer.”

“What do you mean?”

“See for yourself.” And the polished glaze of Orame ‘s teapot suddenly acquired an image.

Haldeth looked down into darkness and torchlight; but the flame was failing, flickering wildly. The torch was held in the white-knuckled fist of Korendir of Whitestorm, who climbed a rock wall with his dagger between his teeth and his sword thrust unsheathed through his belt. The left shoulder of his tunic was sliced to gore-drenched ribbons.

“Neth, he’s hurt,” cried Haldeth. Haldeth saw his friend’s face was worn with exhaustion and hunger, and that something else stalked him from below.

“Wereleopards!” Haldeth reached out, bruised his knuckles against heated ceramic, and cursed. The image disappeared, and he frantically looked to Orame. “Neth’s grace, you can’t just let him die ...”

Praise for THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM:

“Storytelling at its best … should establish Wurts as one of the premier fantasy authors today.” — RAYMOND FEIST, author of Riftwar Saga

“It’s been a long time since I immersed myself in a novel as I did in Master of Whitestorm. Janny Wurts writes with astonishing energy, driving her narrative along at a breakneck pace. But behind the flash and fire lies a beautiful concept …” — STEPHEN R. DONALDSON, author of The Chronocles of Thomas Covenant

“Powerful … tersely written … epic grandeur and truly magnificent theme. It certainly strides boldly head and sholders above the maddening throng of charming, but not so powerful, books …” — ANNE MCCAFFREY, author of The Dragonriders of Pern

**

This classic fantasy adventure from the acclaimed author of the Wars of Light and Shadow series “is storytelling at its best” (Raymond E. Feist, #1 New York Times–bestselling author).

Chained at the oar on a Mhurgai galley, a sullen slave who never speaks is considered a madman by his fellow captives—until the hour Korendir announces a plan, which is certainly doomed to failure, for no one ever escapes the merciless Mhurgai alive . . .

Korendir’s silence hides a devious intellect. And his benchmate, Haldeth, is desperate to end his cruel captivity, even if mercy comes to him under the murderous knives of the Mhurgai. When Korendir’s daring plan frees them both, Haldeth is compelled to follow his determined companion on an even more impossible quest: to lift a curse that despoils the kingdom of Torresdyr by recovering a legendary wardstone from a witch. His prize if he succeeds? A wizard’s treasure. If he fails? A grave with the legion of defeated champions before him. Far from content to retire from danger, Korendir’s restless nature will not embrace peace, his insatiable taste for impossible odds skating the thin edge toward insanity . . .

“Powerful . . . Epic grandeur . . . Magnificent.” —Anne McCaffrey, New York Times–bestselling author

“Feeling like an old-fashioned episodic adventure fantasy, the novel gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains the main character’s personality. Think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting.” —Tor.com

“A large, varied, and original fantasy world, a unique magic concept, and a beautiful romance.” —Fantasy Literature

Korendir’s name was the stuff of legend ...

Man of mystery ... deadly mercenary ... obsessed adventurer ...

From a life of misery, chained as a galley slave under the whips of the marauding Mhurgai, Korendir contrived an escape against impossible odds, only to gamble his hard-won freedom against the world's most dangerous threats. Even Haldeth, fellow captive at the oar and his only accepted friend, can not understand what drives Korendir to repeated risk. But the hazardous tasks serve a madman’s hope, to build an unbreachable citadel.

Yet, can any fortress wall be enough to disarm the inner nightmares that ride the Master of Whitestorm with the cruelty of a death-wish?

“IS KORENDIR ALIVE?”

Staring at Haldeth thoughtfully, Orame, wizard of the White Circle, said, “He’s alive.” A frown marred his olive skin. “But not for much longer.”

“What do you mean?”

“See for yourself.” And the polished glaze of Orame ‘s teapot suddenly acquired an image.

Haldeth looked down into darkness and torchlight; but the flame was failing, flickering wildly. The torch was held in the white-knuckled fist of Korendir of Whitestorm, who climbed a rock wall with his dagger between his teeth and his sword thrust unsheathed through his belt. The left shoulder of his tunic was sliced to gore-drenched ribbons.

“Neth, he’s hurt,” cried Haldeth. Haldeth saw his friend’s face was worn with exhaustion and hunger, and that something else stalked him from below.

“Wereleopards!” Haldeth reached out, bruised his knuckles against heated ceramic, and cursed. The image disappeared, and he frantically looked to Orame. “Neth’s grace, you can’t just let him die ...”

Praise for THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM:

“Storytelling at its best … should establish Wurts as one of the premier fantasy authors today.” — RAYMOND FEIST, author of Riftwar Saga

“It’s been a long time since I immersed myself in a novel as I did in Master of Whitestorm. Janny Wurts writes with astonishing energy, driving her narrative along at a breakneck pace. But behind the flash and fire lies a beautiful concept …” — STEPHEN R. DONALDSON, author of The Chronocles of Thomas Covenant

“Powerful … tersely written … epic grandeur and truly magnificent theme. It certainly strides boldly head and sholders above the maddening throng of charming, but not so powerful, books …” — ANNE MCCAFFREY, author of The Dragonriders of Pern